Her Secret Daughter

by Ruth Logan Herne

  “I surely did, and the pride and joy in Josie’s eyes when she showed it to me.” Maybelle patted his shoulder. “Your men did well, that’s the cornerstone of a great barbecue. To have a grand old smoker and a cook who is not afraid to use it. She said you’re planning a smaller version for catering gigs. That’s all the rage right now, so it’s a smart move, Jacob. I’ll tell Marv Carrington that when I see him, but I expect it was your call. You see a lot more than most job supers do, and when it comes to restaurant creation, you are your daddy’s boy.” She started for the door. “Call if you need to, I’ve got to check on a kitchen just outside of DC, and you know folks with mansions. They need to have the best of everything in a room they generally never see. But it will be a cook’s dream.”

  “I expect it will.” He didn’t say he understood that reasoning better than most. The thought of his mother cooking was more fairy tale than fact, but his father loved to cook, so it worked out.

  But when they were growing up his father was gone long hours. Days, sometimes weeks, creating his brand and hosting grand openings. Sheila Weatherly had brought the kids to attend many of them, but as he and Ginger matured, conflicting schedules were the rule of the day. Maybe having a cook and a housekeeper wasn’t an indulgence. Perhaps it simply allowed his mother to be present at all those other things. Ball games and dance recitals and tennis matches for Ginger.

  He’d always thought his mother was a little spoiled, and maybe she was, in a way. But perhaps she was doing what she needed to do to be a good wife and a great mother.

  That made the slap in the face sharper when the lawyer read Ginger’s will out loud. His sister’s choice had hurt his mother, and when he wouldn’t sign Addie over to his parents, a rift had formed. It was better now...but not fully healed. He wanted that healing. He wanted anguish and grief and hurt feelings to be old news. Addie deserved to be surrounded by positive emotions. She’d had more turmoil than any young child should ever endure.

  He came down the main stairway, checking things as he moved. A glorious lobby rose up to an overarching ceiling. The massive chandelier had been completed, and the entire effect welcomed guests to something bigger and bolder than they’d seen on the lake before. And yet, tucked to the northern edge, was a local treasure, a barbecue dive to draw in locals while the steak house upstairs might be preferred by some of the inn’s more formal guests and business functions.

  Either way, this newest Carrington resort was his favorite. He spotted Josie moving toward a side door and called her name. “Got a minute?”

  She moved his way. She should look out of place with her tank top and light khaki capris, but she didn’t, and he realized she had just enough moxie to fit in anywhere, a quality he admired. “Just,” she told him. “My cousin is in labor and my mom and I are watching little Davy while she’s in the hospital. Mom’s on her way here now. She’s having an old hardwood floor refinished today. For the moment, her house is uninhabitable.”

  “Want a coffee while we wait for her?”

  “I never say no to coffee. Especially on someone else’s dime. And while I offer a true Louisiana chicory mix for customers who’ve acquired a taste for the stuff, I need coffee that tastes like coffee.” She fell into step beside him, and he couldn’t help himself. He leaned over and sniffed, on purpose.

  She laughed. “I know, I smell like smoke and seasonings and all things Cajun and Southern right now. Hazards of the trade. Sorry.”

  “Wasn’t complaining, ma’am. More like appreciating.”

  Color rose to her cheeks. Not pink like fairer skin would show, but a deep rose that blended with her tawnier complexion. “So, back to coffee.” She aimed a firm look to quash his flirting, which only made him want to flirt more. “I put a one-cup dispenser into the kitchen this morning, with a big—” she stretched her arms wide “—box of pods because when it comes to coffee, this New Yorker doesn’t mess around.”

  “Nor does the Southern gentleman by your side.” He held the door open to the first-floor administrative office suite. “Is your mother going to be here for a little while?”

  “Not by choice, but yes.” She followed him to the sophisticated but visually simple coffee machine in the second room. “She can’t have the little guy at her house right now, and of course Aunt Kate is at the hospital. It’s too nice a day to send them to my apartment, and Davy will love the beach. I figured I’d feed Mom, and she can watch Davy play in the sand until I’m cleaned up and out of here. A beautiful day like today shouldn’t be taken for granted.”

  “I’m not sure I appreciated ‘soft weather’ like I should have in the past,” he acknowledged as he pulled out his phone. “And while I didn’t mind the winter, I didn’t mind seeing it end, either. Now I get where the phrase came from.”

  “Wishing winter over is a common observance up here, but you didn’t run screaming, so that’s a plus.”

  He smiled. “I’ll call my parents and see if they can bring Addie back here for food. She’s a born potato lover. Doesn’t matter how we fix them, Addie’s on board.” He hit speed dial and the speaker icon as he maneuvered the coffee machine. “Hey, Mom, you there?”

  His mother sounded a little out of breath. “Do you know how big the hills are here, Jacob?”

  He laughed because Addie would live in the hills if he let her. “I do. And Addie wants to climb every one. Has she tired you out?”

  “Energized us is more like it!” his father’s voice boomed in, which meant he was on speaker, too. “And we’ve worked up an appetite, sure enough!”

  “My father talks in exclamation points, much like Addie,” Jacob whispered with his hand over the sensitive phone mic. “Dad, one of our new restaurants has a food spread on. Why don’t you guys come back here for supper, and we can take Addie into town for custard later. She can show you all her favorites.”

  “Are you talking barbecue, son? Because don’t tease a Southern man with some ill-famed edition of Yankee barbecue. I’m no one’s fool when it comes to good ’cue, and you know that.”

  Jacob winced because Josie was standing right there, hearing every word, but when Josie answered, he was pretty sure she’d stand her ground with his father. And possibly win. “I will throw down the gauntlet to you, Mr. Weatherly, because my ’cue will stand up to the best of the best in the Deep South, and/or Southwest, take your pick. Unless you’re going to pretend that the Carolinas have anything up their sleeves to compete with the Gulf. Because I’m pretty sure you know they don’t. At least that’s the word in Cajun country.”

  A long, slow silence ensued, until his father burst out laughing. “I’ll take up your challenge, young woman, and all the cheek in this world won’t change my mind if your food doesn’t stand the test. Although I’ll do my best to be polite.”

  Josie laughed.

  So did his father.

  And just like that they’d met on some indefinable restaurant-friendly common ground. Jacob wasn’t sure what he’d do if his father didn’t like Josie’s barbecue, and Bob Weatherly wasn’t exactly discreet. If something needed work, he let you know in no uncertain terms. But hearing Josie go toe-to-toe with his father had done something he hadn’t been able to do the past couple of years.

  She made his father sound like the old Robert Weatherly, the proud and funny CEO of a major restaurant chain, at the top of his game.

  He hung up the phone and turned her way. She’d finished brewing her coffee, and added a generous shot of syrup, then foamed milk to the top. “This—” she lifted her cup and her gaze “—is the most amazing coffee machine ever.”

  Their eyes locked, and suddenly he wasn’t thinking about coffee, or his dad, or anything except the attractive and amazing woman in front of him.

  Strong. Kind. Resolute. She’d gone the distance with corporate offices and came out a winner, and Jacob had been in this business long enough to understand the rarity in tha
t.

  But it wasn’t her business acumen calling him. Or the smoke-scented hair and clothing.

  It was her—the strong, beautiful woman who hid her wounds well, and wore a sea green tank top like other women wore designer labels.

  He leaned forward, his gaze traveling from her eyes to her lips, wondering, and not wanting to wonder anymore.

  And she leaned forward, too.

  Then she drew back. “Um. No.”

  Jacob didn’t draw back. “I think yes.”

  She stepped away and indicated the coffee. “I’m grateful for the coffee, but that’s as far as this goes. I don’t kiss casually, I don’t flirt and I’m not into short-term relationships, so let’s call an immediate halt to this attraction.”

  “So the lady admits there’s an attraction.”

  “The lady also states that the attraction is to be avoided.” She faced him frankly and kept her voice firm. “She is not a fan of broken hearts or messing up little kids’ lives with transient affections. You’re leaving in another month. I’m staying here with a brand-new business to run. Complicating matters isn’t in the schedule.”

  “What if they’re already complicated?” he asked.

  She stayed quiet, walked through the office door and didn’t turn. As stated, she didn’t flirt, although he’d given her the perfect opening. She moved straight on through the restaurant to the smoker area while he followed.

  “Josie! We’re here!” Her mother’s voice interrupted the conversation from across the paved lot. She waved once she’d lifted Kimberly’s little guy out of a car seat. “And Davy’s so excited to go play in the sand!”

  Jacob’s parents’ car pulled in and parked right next to Josie’s mother. They climbed out, looking happier than he’d seen them in a long time. Time with Addie did that to people. She brought out the best in folks.

  Addie hopped out, looked around the parking lot like he’d taught her to do, and headed toward Josie’s mother. “Are you guys here to see Josie? Who is this little guy? This is my Memaw, right here!” She grabbed hold of his mother’s hand and drew her forward, and her excitement put more joy in his mother’s face than he’d seen in a long while. “And my Pawpaw! This is Josie’s mother. I met her the other day!”

  She spoke as if excited by life, but while his mother appeared delighted, Josie’s mother was suddenly fighting tears.

  Two strange reactions to Addie in one day. Like mother, like daughter?

  He started forward, but Josie intercepted her mother quickly. “Mom, I know this whole having-babies thing gets the entire Gallagher clan emotional, and I’m glad you were able to bring Davy over. I see you brought his sand bucket of toys. Perfect!” She stayed matter-of-fact, so Jacob did the same. “Mr. Weatherly. Mrs. Weatherly.” Josie stuck out her hand to his parents in turn. “A pleasure to make your acquaintance. Jacob has talked about you both, and how you inspired him from the time he was little.” She shook their hands, holding his father’s hand for extra beats of the clock. “And while I may have tweaked you on the phone, sir, if you have any advice to offer once you’ve had supper, I’d love to hear it. It isn’t every day I get to chat with one of the great icons in restaurant history.”

  “Flattery will get you everywhere, my dear.” Jacob’s father grinned and clapped her on the back gently. “I don’t get the chance to talk business much anymore. I miss it.”

  “Retirement isn’t exactly what we thought it would be, that’s for sure.” His mother didn’t look combative; a welcome change. She’d pushed for the Florida move, longing for something with no memories of her lost daughter dogging every step she took, but she clearly wasn’t all that happy with the new reality, either.

  “Are you guys going to the beach?” Addie asked. She danced on her toes, excited. “I would love to do that! Can I, Dad? Can I go to the beach with Josie’s mom and the little guy?”

  “This is Davy.” Josie palmed the little fellow’s cheek with one tawny hand. “His mom’s having a baby, so he’s staying with my mom for a couple of days.”

  “Oh, I want a baby brother or sister someday.” Addie’s eyes went round. She clasped both hands over her heart. “That is my best wish ever, Josie.” Gazing up, imploring, she carried the little-girl drama to the hilt. “To have my dad find someone to marry and we can have little brothers and sisters and be a big, happy family!”

  Chapter Nine

  “Hey.” Jacob pretended to be affronted as he bent to Addie’s level. “Kid. I’m pretty sure we’re happy, right?”

  Addie nodded.

  “Then let’s leave the wedding thing in God’s hands, okay?”

  Addie rolled her eyes. “I guess.”

  Josie’s heart didn’t just crumble. It shattered into a million tiny, silent pieces, hearing her daughter’s wishes and dreams.

  Addie wanted normal.

  Addie longed for a mother, not knowing her mother stood before her.

  And here was Cissy Gallagher, about to cry her eyes out because she couldn’t acknowledge her granddaughter while Addie heaped love on Jacob’s parents.

  How in the world had she ever thought staying around was a good idea? Dumb, Josie. Plain dumb.

  “I’ll walk down with you, if that’s all right?” Sheila motioned toward the beach. “I’d love to have some time to tuck my toes in the sand and watch the kids play.”

  Josie’s mother had recovered enough to swipe a hand to her eyes and nod, but would she be all right on the beach with Jacob’s mother while Josie worked? Or would Cissy feel a sudden need to bear her heart and soul to the other woman and possibly incite a new war of northern aggression? Josie had to trust she’d keep her feelings to herself.

  “I’d love to have a look around the resort, son.” Mr. Weatherly spoke up as the women and kids walked toward the hotel’s front.

  “Sure.” She felt Jacob’s eyes on her, but she didn’t look up. She checked the temps on the smoker before going back inside, and when the men also moved toward the front of the expansive resort hotel, she let the tears come.

  What was she doing here? Not just in the hotel, but in Grace Haven at all? Why hadn’t she run away when Addie first appeared?

  Because Addie was with the wrong person, that’s why, only he might be the right person, after all. Certainly more right than the pretend father who deserted his marriage once the adoption was complete. Or the mother who lied her way through agency protocol to gain a child.

  Emotions didn’t just hit her, they ransacked, and just as she decided she might pull out some chicken and give it a thorough pounding to release her aggression, her phone rang. Cruz’s name came up on the display. She drew a deep breath to gain control of her rolling emotions and answered. “Cruz. What’s up?”

  “Can you talk?”

  She glanced around and nodded. “Yes.”

  “Adam O’Neill signed over full custody of Addie before their divorce was final. Before the six-month statute and their finalized application in front of a judge. Between what you heard from Jacob, and this proof that I’m sure Ginger never thought would be found, it’s clear that they misrepresented themselves to the agency to gain a child.”

  So it was true. Jacob’s sister maneuvered her husband and her situation to adopt Addie.

  “This changes things, Josie.”

  Josie wasn’t so sure. “It clears things up, but what can it change, Cruz? Do I move forward out of some misplaced anger and mess up a child’s life because I was wronged? Or do I think about King Solomon and his ruling, that a child should be divided to satisfy two fighting women? If you truly love someone, how can you intentionally tear them apart?”

  “I hear what you’re saying.” Cruz spoke deliberately, the way he often did. “But there was a crime committed here, Josie. So yes, it’s worked out all right, and I’m glad about that, but it could be argued that the original crime of misrep
resentation could have egregious effects on the child. She never had a father to speak of, and the mother was taken out of the picture through no fault of her own. However, her original deceit left Addie orphaned, which can have its own emotional stamp on a child’s life. The initial lie or misrepresentation then becomes the catalyst for the ensuing result. Before you make any decisions, think about that, all right?”

  “I will. I wish...” She sighed, choking down emotion once again.

  “That this had never happened.”

  She drew a breath and swiped a kitchen towel to her eyes. “Yes. And this beautiful child’s life wasn’t comprised of deception upon deception. That’s so wrong, Cruz. And yet...”

  “Yes?”

  “She seems happy. And content. I can’t in good conscience mess that up. I’m delighted to see her happy. I rejoice in that.”

  “Except...”

  She didn’t try to hold back the sigh. “A part of me is filled with this longing to be her mother. But I have to push that part aside.”

  “Don’t hurry your decisions, take some time to digest all of this,” Cruz advised. “The agency is appalled by the way, and you’ll probably be hearing from their attorney.”

  More people knowing.

  The walls began to close in around her. “Tell them they don’t need to. Tell them—”

  “I can’t, Josie. I can’t tell them what to do. They understand your plight, but they need to cover themselves legally. They bear the ultimate responsibility for what’s happened, and they’re pretty sure you’re about to sue them for a whole lot of money.”

  “Sue them?” This couldn’t get worse. “I’m not suing anyone, I just...” She paused for breath, thoroughly rattled. “I want my daughter safe and sound. And yes, I’m thoroughly ticked off that someone got around the system, and the fact that the agency didn’t catch on to the O’Neills’ plans infuriates me because if Jacob knew about it, others must have known, too. Should he have come forward and told the agency? Did they even talk to him? And does this mean that the O’Neills’ references lied? How much can an agency be expected to do?” The intentionally tangled web infuriated her. “So maybe they didn’t do their best homework in this case. Maybe the fact that Ginger and Adam had plenty of money to finance the adoption meant they didn’t get looked at very closely. And that’s enough to anger anyone, isn’t it?”